Veterinary Technician Salaries

At $33,370 per year, the average annual salary for a vet tech in Maryland exceeds the national average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, top earners in the field are making over $40,000 per year. Veterinary assistant and animal caretaker positions require less training and are not licensed, so the salaries are lower at $26,800 on average.

License Requirements for Veterinary Technicians

Only vet techs need to be licensed in Maryland; vet assistants and animal caretakers do not. The Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners sets the requirements for licensing, which includes the completion of a two-year veterinary technology program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). There are exceptions to this, but most candidates for licensing must meet this requirement. Applicants must also submit a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Examination and pass Maryland’s jurisprudence exam, which is a test of state laws.

Employers for Veterinary Technicians in Maryland

There are 2,250 vet techs working in the state, along with 1,620 animal caretakers and vet assistants, with new positions opening up all the time. Some of the employers include veterinary offices, emergency animal hospitals, animal shelters and research laboratories:

Garrett County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area Area

Garrett College

Garrett College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. Classes are taken at their campus in McHenry in Garrett County. The majority of of the school’s 713 students are on 2-year programs. Fees for tuition for in-district students are usually about $3,584 and are $7,000 and $8,120 for in-state and out-of-state students respectively. Study materials can cost in the order of $1,400, depending on the program chosen.

Baltimore-Towson, MD Area

The Community College of Baltimore County

The Associate’s program at The Community College of Baltimore County is taught at their campus in Baltimore in Baltimore County, MD. The college has around 22,887 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Tuition fees for in-district students are roughly around $3,712 and are $6,650 and $9,718 for in-state and out-of-state students respectively, while study materials may cost roughly $1,430, depending on the program.

* Tuition fees and accredition status are correct at the time of writing, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/). Confirm with college before applying.